Comments on: Adobe Edge Web Fontshttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts/
Comments on MetaFilter post Adobe Edge Web FontsMon, 24 Sep 2012 15:46:03 -0800Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:46:03 -0800en-ushttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60Adobe Edge Web Fontshttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts
<a href="http://html.adobe.com/edge/webfonts/">Adobe</a> is getting in on <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/105138/Grumpy-Wizards-make-toxic-brew-for-the-Evil-Queen-and-Jack">Google's act</a>, offering <a href="http://www.edgefonts.com/#list-of-available-fonts">500 font familes</a> of Typekit fonts for you to use for free on your website.post:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:42:59 -0800crunchlandwebwebdesignhtmlcssfontsadobeBy: blue_beetlehttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583036
Comic Sans
Comic Sans Bold
Comic Sans Italic
Comic Sans Bold Italic
Comic Sans Sanscomment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583036Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:46:03 -0800blue_beetleBy: deezilhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583043
Is it bad that I went to the list for those, blue_beetle?comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583043Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:48:14 -0800deezilBy: jenkinsEarhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583047
Also released by Adobe today: <a href="http://blogs.adobe.com/typblography/2012/09/source-code-pro.html">Source Code Pro</a>, a free, open source, monospace sans font for coding. Looks pretty good in my first run through it. Unlike the other fonts above, this one includes ttf files for installation.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583047Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:49:26 -0800jenkinsEarBy: thanotopsishttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583050
For these to be worthwhile over Google Web Fonts, I need everyone to start using these so that they'll be cached in my visitor's browsers. Thanks.
...why are you still here? Get to coding!comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583050Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:51:30 -0800thanotopsisBy: zachliptonhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583075
It doesn't seem like Adobe is getting in on Google's act at all. Google outright released the fonts under open source licenses so you can download them, use them offline and in print, redistribute them, and generally modify them (most look like they are Apache Licensed as far as I can tell). If you want, you're free to serve them yourself instead of having Google do it, though you can lose some caching advantages that way.
Instead, Adobe seems to have these fonts under highly restrictive terms that forbid any offline use and prohibit you from downloading the actual fonts. Thus, the only way to use them is to have Adobe serve them on your behalf, which means they can turn them off or ban you at anytime. You couldn't even bundle them into a mobile app, though you could have a mobile app display them in an HTML web view. Indeed, the 500 font families Adobe is offering <a href="http://googlewebfonts.blogspot.com/2012/09/moregreatfonts.html">includes</a> all the ones Google has as part of their WebFonts offering.
I'm not a massive "free as in freedom" zealot, but having all these fonts disappear from your website in an instant if/when Adobe decides to turn the servers off isn't so great for web designers.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583075Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:07:51 -0800zachliptonBy: NordyneDefenceDynamicshttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583077
<a href="http://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583047" title="jenkinsEar wrote in comment #4583047">&gt;</a> <i>Also released by Adobe today: Source Code Pro, a free, open source, monospace sans font for coding. Looks pretty good in my first run through it.</i>
Oh, hello, new Terminal typeface.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583077Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:09:08 -0800NordyneDefenceDynamicsBy: boo_radleyhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583078
<a href="http://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583047">jenkinsEar</a>: "<i>Also released by Adobe today: Source Code Pro, a free, open source, monospace sans font for coding</i>"
This font is totally acceptable.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583078Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:09:13 -0800boo_radleyBy: crunchlandhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583087
That's a good distinction, zachlipton. Thanks for pointing it out.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583087Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:17:18 -0800crunchlandBy: Blazecock Pileonhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583088
<em> Also released by Adobe today: Source Code Pro, a free, open source, monospace sans font for coding. </em>
This is really nice for coding. I liked Source Sans Pro, but it wasn't monospaced — good on Adobe to do a fixed-width version. I was using Menlo in Terminal, but the lighter weight of Source Code Pro is an excellent replacement, so far.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583088Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:17:36 -0800Blazecock PileonBy: cell dividehttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583098
This is funny to me, because I just switched from TypePad to Google, yesterday!comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583098Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:23:21 -0800cell divideBy: cell dividehttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583099
I meant TypeKit, obv, but adding this comment so I don't get MovableType related snark!comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583099Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:23:51 -0800cell divideBy: charlie don't surfhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583100
Apparently Adobe is intent on making these fonts as difficult to use as possible, since there is no catalog of the fonts, and no way to see a bunch of them at once. You have to click on them one by one to get a sample. Adobe could learn a lot from <a href="https://www.fontfont.com/fonts">FontFont</a>.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583100Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:24:00 -0800charlie don't surfBy: straighthttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583116
So, anyone got any recommendations for the most-readable-on-the-screen font to use as one's default font for browsing the web?comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583116Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:37:33 -0800straightBy: Jimbobhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583127
<i>So, anyone got any recommendations for the most-readable-on-the-screen font to use as one's default font for browsing the web?</i>
You like Fords or Chevvys?comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583127Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:41:12 -0800JimbobBy: Xochttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583130
By having to provide a link to Adobe's JavaScript file, Adobe also gets a wealth of information on the browser clicking on the page where the scripts are embedded, as well as the web site itself. Info collected includes counts of clicks by web site, IP Addresses, and browser header information. Browser header information shows what browser is being used, what plug-ins they have installed, and what operating system and/or device is being used. This kind of information can be mined in a number of different ways, particularly building a profile of web sites that particular IP addresses follow, which might later be used to deliver targeted ads, even on sites not related to any that the fonts are on.
They aren't giving those fonts away, they are trading it in exchange for information about the web sites and users.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583130Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:45:09 -0800XocBy: xcasexhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583152
In true Adobe-ian fashion, I expect laggy browser syndrome to occur when utilizing it. But I will try it out.. soon.. really, must just.. aaaaarghcomment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583152Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:59:04 -0800xcasexBy: ArkhanJGhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583159
The licence restrictions will keep me away from the adobe edge fonts, but source code pro is definitely likely to replace meslo medium and Ubuntu mono as my go to coding font. Very nice indeed.
(Meslo is Menlo with added vertical space, I find vanilla Menlo a touch cramped).comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583159Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:05:23 -0800ArkhanJGBy: Benny Andajetzhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583190
Why mess with a service? Just take a font you like, go to Font Squirrel, and follow the directions to make your own @font-face font. Takes 2 or 3 minutes. Download the files and serve them yourself.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583190Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:17:59 -0800Benny AndajetzBy: Mayor Curleyhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583200
I wonder if the fonts request an update every three days, and then the download never actually starts.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583200Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:24:54 -0800Mayor CurleyBy: StickyCarpethttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583212
<em>prohibit you from downloading the actual fonts.</em>
My understanding of the word "free" as in "a free thing," says that the possession of the free thing is the defining feature for the recipient of the free thing.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583212Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:33:23 -0800StickyCarpetBy: fuzzypantaloneshttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583215
well that's nice i guess, but if i can't use it in a mockup, then most likely i won't use it on a live project.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583215Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:33:52 -0800fuzzypantalonesBy: hambonehttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583234
<a href="http://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583047">jenkinsEar</a>: <em>"Also released by Adobe today: Source Code Pro, a free, open source, monospace sans font for coding"</em>
<a href="http://blogs.adobe.com/typblography/2012/09/source-code-pro.html" title="scroll to the comments at the end">Unfortunately</a> there are no italic fonts. That might make it slightly less convenient for coding, unless you're not into commenting your code. :)comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583234Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:45:46 -0800hamboneBy: zachliptonhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583251
<em>My understanding of the word "free" as in "a free thing," says that the possession of the free thing is the defining feature for the recipient of the free thing.</em>
You must be new at this whole internet thing, eh?comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583251Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:00:43 -0800zachliptonBy: ArkhanJGhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583255
Eh, I use sublime text which changes the colour of comments instead of italicising them. Could be irritating though. Hope they fix that!comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583255Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:03:39 -0800ArkhanJGBy: the cydonianhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583257
<em>You couldn't even bundle them into a mobile app, though you could have a mobile app display them in an HTML web view</em>
Precisely my thoughts.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583257Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:04:15 -0800the cydonianBy: Blazecock Pileonhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583287
<em>Unfortunately there are no italic fonts. That might make it slightly less convenient for coding, unless you're not into commenting your code. :)</em>
My emacs modes are configured to color comments differently from keywords, class and variable names, etc. so the lack of italics doesn't affect my work too much.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583287Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:19:27 -0800Blazecock PileonBy: scamperhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583316
Still no Gotham.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583316Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:37:15 -0800scamperBy: kentkhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583318
Hmmm. So I looked at the list of Adobe Edge Fonts and saw Google Web Fonts looking back at me in a mirror. I mean, aside from Adobe Source Code Pro (which will probably wind up on Google Web Fonts, just like Adobe Source Sans has), what is new and different about Adobe Edge Fonts, anyway? Meet the new open-source webfonts, same as the old open-source webfonts?
Plus ça change and all that...comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583318Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:38:05 -0800kentkBy: punkrockrathttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583325
Why didn't they just release these as part of a free TypeKit account? Why the need for a whole different service with a different name?comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583325Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:41:50 -0800punkrockratBy: Jimbobhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583368
<i>Unfortunately there are no italic fonts. That might make it slightly less convenient for coding, unless you're not into commenting your code. :)</i>
<a href="http://grab.by/giWa">System italicizing on this font</a> doesn't look too bad to me.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583368Mon, 24 Sep 2012 19:01:32 -0800JimbobBy: benzenedreamhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583660
Still using <a href="http://www.tobias-jung.de/seekingprofont">Profont</a> for its utility rather than beauty.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583660Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:52:55 -0800benzenedreamBy: barnacleshttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583663
I started using the <a href="http://www.proggyfonts.com/index.php?menu=download">Proggy fonts</a> years ago and they've followed me to each new computer. They're pretty good.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583663Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:58:40 -0800barnaclesBy: ArkhanJGhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4583726
Turns out, sublime text 2 now supports font-style in colour schemes (i.e. tmtheme files) - which means you can do italic comments, or bold functions, or... Had no idea that was a thing. It's done by default in several of the default themes too.
So I've added
<blockquote><code>
&lt;key&gt;fontStyle&lt;/key&gt;
&lt;string&gt;italic&lt;/string&gt;
</code>
</blockquote>
to my theme where it styles comments, and <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/103418843325186142125/albums/5756812929667502401/5792015691595202754?authkey=CMOpw_Pr1LqlOw">voila</a> - source code pro, with auto-generated oblique styling on the comment section. Doesn't look bad at all, even not having a proper italic version.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4583726Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:48:13 -0800ArkhanJGBy: Nelsonhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4584062
This product comes just about a year after the Typekit acquisition. It seems like good news all around: free fonts, competition for Google, more users of Typekit. But has anyone worked out <i>why</i> Adobe is providing this <a href="https://typekit.com/plans">valuable</a> service for free? What's the advantage to them? Hoping to upsell to non-free fonts?
(Typekit was founded by Metafilter's own <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/user/960">Jeff Veen</a>, user #960.)comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4584062Tue, 25 Sep 2012 07:50:16 -0800NelsonBy: crunchlandhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4584306
I think they're offering the fonts for free because they may think that there's no way to compete with google webfonts for free with a product they offer for fee. That, and they're rolling out <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/adobe-opens-design-box-of-delights-with-edge-tools-and-services-7000004766/">a whole suite of software</a> and maybe doing this has gained them a lot of attention.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4584306Tue, 25 Sep 2012 09:41:17 -0800crunchlandBy: gilrainhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4584381
<small><em><a href="http://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4584062">Nelson</a>:</em> What's the advantage to them? Hoping to upsell to non-free fonts?</small>
This news actually, finally, got me to take a serious look at Typekit. I've always heard good things about them, but had somehow assumed their font licenses were per font or otherwise expensive. I signed up for a payed plan this morning after learning how reasonable the pricing and terms are, and also just how many excellent fonts are in their collection.
So, that alone may be one reason.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4584381Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:11:11 -0800gilrainBy: charlie don't surfhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4585577
I found a <a href="http://peterchondesign.com/adobe-webfonts.html">list of Web Font samples</a> courtesy of designer Peter Chon. I don't know if it's the full list, doesn't look like 500 fonts to me, unless they're counting variants like italic and bold.
Why do people have to do Adobe's job for them?comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4585577Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:29:40 -0800charlie don't surfBy: Jimbobhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4585609
Not the whole list, because I tried out one of these fonts on my blog today, "Actor", and it's not on that page.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4585609Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:07:08 -0800JimbobBy: benzenedreamhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4585654
<em>Why do people have to do Adobe's job for them?</em>
Because they're Adobe.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4585654Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:46:59 -0800benzenedreamBy: Zedhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4586188
Source Code Pro looks good at small sizes, but at the size I usually pick it seems too squarish. Like usual, it's back to DejaVu Sans Mono for me.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4586188Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:07:53 -0800ZedBy: crunchlandhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4586276
<em>Because they're Adobe.</em> -- It's true that Adobe has made a few missteps along the way, but they're still the creators of Photoshop. So I'm willing to cut them some slack.comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4586276Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:02:50 -0800crunchlandBy: Zedhttp://www.metafilter.com/120233/Adobe-Edge-Web-Fonts#4594327
Having nothing to do with Adobe, <a href="http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-free-font-dyslexia.html">OpenDyslexia</a> is a font for mobile devices that tries to be more readable for people with dyslexia. (Seemed thin for a FPP but just right for a comment on an open font thread.)comment:www.metafilter.com,2012:site.120233-4594327Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:49:09 -0800Zed